Occupy Cardiff: the story so far

Two camps, two evictions, six arrests and two court appearances. Compared to other Occupy movements, Occupy Cardiff’s journey has been full of false starts.

Since Autumn 2011 the Occupy movement has sparked protest camps around the world. Coming in relatively late, Cardiff has had its own camp since Saturday 19 November.

The first attempt to Occupy Cardiff was on Friday 11 November 2011, outside Cardiff Castle. Police removed it within hours and six people were arrested.

“Our issue was not with those who wanted to protest their causes peacefully, our priority is safety of all our citizens and the protection of the city’s heritage,” said a spokesperson for the Council, who own the land.

Jason is one of the people who were arrested. He will be tried in February 2012:

A camp was set up successfully at Transport House, Cathedral Road on Saturday 19 November.

Seeking Sanctuary

Transport House is home to the Welsh branch of Unite as well as other trade unions and Welsh Labour. Occupiers knew Unite were likely to let them use the land as a sanctuary base from which to build.

The camp at Transport House

Lloyd James, 20, is part of a small group of ‘full-timers’ at the camp. “We’re one of the first Occupys to link with the trade union movement,” he said.

“They supply us with tea and coffee and we’re allowed to use the toilets and shower facilities.”

Unite released a statement saying the occupiers had their permission to stay “following days of harassment by the police for simply engaging in a peaceful protest”. They hoped the occupiers would repay the favour by joining them on the rally on the Wednesday 30 November strike day, which they did.

But camping in your friend’s garden can bring problems as well as perks. A few people have said they have been put off by the union link, for practical and political reasons.

A small amount of ‘full-timers’ campers has meant these people are stretched too thinly. Despite the popular ‘get a job’ criticism aimed at protesters, one the main issues is that many people involved have jobs or are in full time education.

The Great Tax Invasion

Gail, 40, was one of the occupiers. “There are all these empty buildings when there are cuts going on for different community groups and youth projects. They’re not going to have anywhere to go.”

Lloyd explained the relationship between the camp and the building: “There were a few people who weren’t very comfortable camping so they came up with an idea to occupy a building, much like the people in London have done with the UBS bank.”

The Great Tax Invasion announce their arrival

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) owns the building and sought legal action. The group were given notice for a hearing of claim for possession and representatives appeared at the Cardiff Courts of Civil Justice on Friday 2 December, where a warrant was issued to mobilise bailiffs. The eviction happened within an hour, unusually fast.

Nobody from the WRU has been available to comment on the future of the building. Gerry Toms, Millennium Stadium general manager said, “The next step is to take a close look around the building to see what has happened then we will decide what action to take.”

“We actually cleaned the place up quite a lot in the time we were in there because it was absolutely disgusting,” said Gail

“I was going to make it my home as well as I can’t afford to heat my home any more.”

Despite the obvious attraction to a building over a tent in winter, Lloyd said he thought it was important the group kept a visible presence. “A building is kind of closed off; people aren’t very comfortable approaching a door where they don’t know what’s behind it,” he said.

But what are they actually trying to achieve?

The Occupy movement has been criticised for having no clear goals but, apart from the fact that many camps have released statements of goals, there is more to it. They bring people together and it’s a place for people to discuss what they want and how to achieve it. Goals come out of these discussions. Cardiff’s initial statement is on their blog.

Everyone has their own motivations for being involved with Occupy Cardiff:

Lloyd is unsure on what will happen in the coming weeks. “That will be decided obviously in a general assembly. But Christmas is coming up and people are going to be going home.

Passers by have been giving support and crticism

“What I would like to see happen is maybe have a break for Christmas, build up our numbers and maybe come back with a bit of force to occupy somewhere else.”

He had this message for Occupy Cardiff critics: “Come along, have a discussion with us, talk to us, find out what were’ about.”

Something that is easy to forget is that the Occupy movement goes beyond camps to include a broad base of support, debate and criticism. Occupy Cardiff is also part of a Welsh movement, including Bangor and Swansea.

A group of tents or an occupied building is not going to eliminate social inequality but it is a forum to share ideas and build for the future from the grassroots.

I never intended to get involved with Occupy Cardiff, just went to a meeting out of curiosity but ended up doing a couple of things to help out. I think that whilst it hasn’t always been a smooth ride, and has been full of false starts as you put it, it has also been a very positive thing for Cardiff activism.

With the exception of a few notable events, Cardiff has always lacked a bit of bite when it comes to taking on the powers that be. We have plenty of people up for it but many are inexperienced and those with experience are spread thinly and are putting their energies into other great projects around the city such as the Red and Black Umbrella.

Whatever happens with the camp, I hope the bonds that have been forged and the lessons learnt this year will mean a more focused and audacious approach to the struggles in the year ahead, of which there will be plenty.

So many oppurtunities lost during the first period in my view…did anyone think of embracing the community right next to the camp at Transport House??

I dont mean to criticise…and i take on board that there is alot of people who are inexperienced in direct action, im one too…however, i am also one of those people to turned up and became turned off…why??

I have taken many positives away with me regarding OccupyCardiff…there is a future, there is a valid cause…i believe OccupyCardiff will come back stronger in 2012.

The main point however i have learned personally is…Dont wait for meetings, be positive in your own action…and…

DO IT YOURSELF !!!

Im calling for individual actions throughout the Christmas period…it can be little, it can be medium, it can be big…just document it, take a photo…and publish it (remembering to be careful).

Chapter One was about finding out, making a move and building relationships…i have done so…

2012 is the beginning of Chapter Two…lets do this…i will be,

Best wishes to eveyone involved in all actions so far…looking forward to 2012 😀

Good article. The first paragraph covered the occupy cardiff movement, the rest went on to outline the hijack of the brand.

What came after the forced eviction of the castle was a pantomime of ignorance, ego and old paradigm politicking. This was demonstrated by the decision to camp at the unite building, which was driven by those with strong union and existing political ties (this was not unanimous, nor even a majority). This decision was the end of occupy cardiff.

One of the main purposes of an occupy camp is engagement and education of the public. People who have visited the camp have reported mixed receptions, from hostility to ignorance. Anyone trying to educate another on international finance must have a basic knowledge of fiat money systems, debt and international trade. They must also have a basic understanding of the welsh governments role in cutting services. “David Cameron’s tories” are not cutting health services in wales. Slogans are not enough and people know when someone is talking BS at them.

Constant references to the 99% are fine, unless the demographic of the camp is anything but reflective of that demographic. Lads from grangetown do not need lecturing on urban poverty by the middle class. Young families facing mortgage default do not need to be told money is irrelevant by a dreadlocked trustafarians. There is no point in openly challenging the state and then quietly going to have sandwiches with AMs inside the Unite building. Ultimately, those who camped at the Unite building could not carry the trust or gain the respect of the community. They are not the community how could they?

The great tax invasion was an interesting development, which, through another eviction and reported lack of support from the Unite camp collective, was ultimately futile. This was the only beacon of challenge and potential change throughout the whole month.

Many people will have different views on why the camp at Unite failed, but no one will be able to clearly where it had any success. It wasn’t successful in anyway. Hopefully, if an occupation returns to Cardiff, those who initiate the action will be wary of who they collaborate with or allow to speak on their behalf. All through the camp, younger members kept referring to the “no leaders” mantra. This is a good mantra, unless you are to busy being distracted by the chant to realise you are being led up a dead end.

Thanks, for the clarification. I think the thoughts around money, capitalism and resource based economy seem to be pretty diverse. I guess that’s where formulating clear public statements beforehand comes in.

Don’t know where you have been getting these “stories” from but most of them are fiction rather than fact, not sure who exactly is masquerading under the “occupy cardiff” title either but it isn’t any approved representative of occupy Cardiff that’s for sure.

All quotes from people involved in Occupy Cardiff are from recorded interviews done with people who have ‘occupied’ under the banner of Occupy Cardiff. Obviously everyone involved, and not, has their own perspective. These are people who have been ‘occupying’ therefore I felt they could best represent themselves.

There is no fiction in the articles that I am aware of. If there are any specific factual inaccuracies you are aware of would you please let me know.

Anyone is free to comment on blog posts and they can give themselves whatever names they like. As for sources for interviews there is not an issue with them not being involved I am 100% certain about that, including at least one of them being interviewed while occupying.